The Swope Park Rangers today rounded out the team’s technical staff ahead of the 2017 season with the addition of Gavin McInerney as a goalkeeper coach. McInerney, who was part of the Rochester Rhinos’ coaching staff the last two seasons, joins head coach Nikola Popovic, assistant Paulo Nagamura and fitness coach Joey Harty on the technical staff as the Rangers continue preparations for the upcoming USL season.
“Having the opportunity to be a part of a well established organization like Sporting KC and work with the coaching staff here is something I couldn’t turn down,” McInerney said. “Also having the opportunity to coach in the USL’s Western Conference, it’s something new for me – I’ve been on the East the last two seasons, I’ve had a great time in Rochester under Bob Lilley and now I’m excited for this new chapter and looking forward to bringing success here as well.”
The 32-year-old arrives from the Rhinos where he served as an assistant and goalkeeper coach from 2015 through the end of the 2016 season. Last season, McInerney coached starting goalkeeper Tomas Gomez to the USL Golden Glove title after he posted a goals against average of 0.55 – the lowest in the league.
McInerney was a key member of the Rhinos’ coaching staff as the Eastern Conference side claimed the USL Regular-Season Championship and the USL Cup in 2015, setting a league record by conceding just 15 goals in 28 regular-season games.
A native of Dublin, Ireland, McInerney moved to the U.S. to play collegiate soccer at the University of Memphis in 2004 before returning to Ireland after the 2005 season to sign a professional contract with St. Patrick’s Athletic FC of the League of Ireland. A move to fellow top-flight side Bray Wanderers followed in 2008 before returning stateside in 2009 to begin his coaching career as an assistant head coach with the University of Buffalo.
McInerney then headed to New York as an assistant coach for Monroe Community College, while playing indoor soccer for the Rochester Lancers from 2011-15 before joining the Rhinos prior to their successful 2015 USL season.
